By AMANDA VOGEL, MA As a former group exercise manager, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate countless fitness instructors teaching classes. One thing that always stood out was the association between an instructor’s use of verbal communication and the palpable energy...

by Carlo Filippone One question I’m frequently asked when I first meet someone is why I traded in my weightlifting belt for a kitchen apron. Many people seem to think that food, in any form, is the arch enemy of a professionally tailored body. Whether you’re a...

By Mathew Kadey These days, farmers markets full of edible riches are popping up faster than dandelions on a pesticide-free lawn. Piling your plate high with their fresh fruits and vegetables offers a hearty helping of health benefits: among them, reduced risk of...

By Emily Bailey Grilling seems as easy as pressing an ignition switch and adding food. But if you want to serve up a nutritionally balanced meal that will fuel your performance (and protect your health), you’ll need to be a bit more mindful about it. This cooking...

By INGRID OWEN · We are in the health and wellness business. Our common denominator is serving a consumer desiring guidance on their journey. Regardless of how you structure your interaction and professional guidance, the first step is always about setting appropriate...

by Michael Rosengart, CPT, CES, CSCS In order to perform your best, you need to move well in a biomechanical way and a mobility practice will help you do exactly this. Can you get into the correct position on every exercise or drill? Do you have the ability to move...

AMANDA VOGEL, MA As stereotypes go, you could say group fitness is the domain of women. Men are of course welcome. It’s just that, at many facilities, they seem to overlook group fitness classes as a viable workout option. But why? One good guess is the way group...

In our modernized world, we have access to any kind of food that we crave, at any hour of the day. Our fast-food society means we can eat without preparing our own food, and chow down on red and processed meat, sugar and processed grains, sugary drinks, salt and...

By Jessica Mathews What to Look For in a Group Fitness Instructor Love to bust a move in Zumba? Look forward to unwinding on your mat in yoga? Get pumped up just thinking about breaking a sweat in boot camp? If you’re an avid group fitness goer you’ve probably noticed...